Sheet-feeding machine.



F. L. GROSS.- SHEET FEEDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 12, 1902.

PATEN'TED FEB. 1-3, 1906.

9 SHEETS-SHEET 1..

PATENTED FEB. 13, 1906.

F. L. GROSS. SHEET FEEDING MACHI APPLICATION FILED JULY 12 9 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

No.*812,260 PATENTED FEB. 13, 1906.

F. L. GROSS.

SHEET FEEDING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED JULY 12,1902.

I 9 SHEETS-SHEET a.

No. 812,260. PATENTED FEB. 13, 1906. F. L. (moss. SHEET FEEDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY12,1902.

9 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

No. 812,260. PATENTED FEB. 13, 1906.

F. L. (moss. SHE-ET FEEDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 12, 1902.

9 SHEETSSHEET 5.

fir/06266051 am 1 m P D E T N E T A P S S O R G T R SHEET FEEDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 12,1902.

. 9 SHEETS-SHEET a.

No. 812,260. x PATENTEDFBB; 13, 1906.

F. L; CROSS. SHEET FEEDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION IIL'ED JULY 12,1902.

s aunts-sum 7.

n I lrvvemow PATENTED FEB. 13, 1906.

F. L. GROSS. I SHEET FEEDING MACHINE.

Arrtl'dnlon FILED JULY 12,1902.

9 SHEETB BHEET 8.

v BISIQ'EQI PATENTED FEB. 13, 1906. P. (moss. SHEET PEEDIN G MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 12,1902.

9 SHEETS-SHEET. 9. M

. TYNTTED @TATES Practise enrich.

FBAYK L. CROSS, OF MYSTlC. CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO GROSS PAPER FEEDER COMPANY, OF BOSTGN, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF I MAINE.

$HEET-FEEDING MACHiNE-- Patented Feb. 13,1906.

Application filed July 12, 1902. flerial 1%.115309v sheets are separated from a bank or .pile of,

sheets, so that they may be removed and presentedto machines or devices for further manipulating or acting on the sheets. y

I have embodied the various. features of the. invention in a machine in which the 'sheets are separatedfrom bank of feathered or fanned-out sheets by the action of combing devices which act to further fan or feather out the top sheets, advancing the top sheet to a greaterextent than the sheets beneath it, so that the top sheet is brought into position to be seized and removed by devices which deliver the sheet from the bank and forward it to the machine to which the sheets are being fed. 1

Certain features of the invention relate to means for supplying a bank of feathered sheets to the feerhtable by which they are supported and presented to the separating devices. lilicretofore it has been customary to supply the bank of sheets to the feed-table by feeding the bank from a supply-table located above the feed-table, the. bank of sheets being gradually fed from the supply to the feed table through a curved throat as the sheets were removed from the front end of the pile. v This manner of supplying the bank of sheets is objectionable, for the reason that therear end of the bank is liable to enter the curved throat, so that it is diliicult and sometimes impossible to add a fresh supply of sheets to the rear end of the bank in proper relation to the sheets already in the bank. This manner of supplying the bank of sheets is also objectionable because of the dilficulty in properly feeding'the bankthrough the long and curved path. I eliminate these .objectionable features of the former bank-feeding machines'by providing a loader for laying a bank of feathered sheets upon the feed-table. During the operation of the machine the bank of sheets extends from the feed-table onto the loader, so that atintervals 11. fresh supply of sheets may be added to the rear end from apile or bank.

of the; bank and by the o 'eration of the loader be'laid upon the fee -table. As the bank is fed .to the separating devices the loader moves forward with the bank, and consequently the position of the loader will indicate to the operator the extent to which the supply of sheets on the feed-table isexhausted.

Certain further features of invention relate to devices for separating individual sheets These devices have the same general construction and mode of operation as the feeding device shown in my Patent No. 690,702, January 7, l902.--that is to say,- the controlling mechanism for the feeding mechanism is operated by a driver which is connected with the controlling mechanism by a sheet-controlled pawl.

The advantages of my improved construc-' tion' of controlling mechanism are due in part to the arrangement and construction of the devices for lifting the combing-rolls and also to the devices employed for holding the lift? ing" mechanism out of action. M mechanism is held out of action by a latch which positively locks the lifting mechanism" against movement, so thatthere is no danger of premature operation of such mechanism due to jar'or vibration of; the machine. The latch requires'little move 'ient to release the lifting mechanism and when operated re-' leases said mechanism sharply and accurately,

with a resulting accuracy in the arrest of the feed of the sheet. requires little movement in lifting thecomb ing-roll and may therefore act quickly and accurately when released and may also be re set in a fraction of the time during which the delivery devicesareacting'on the sheet, thus insuring the proper and accurate action of feeding mechanism.

Certain further features relate to devices for feedin a bank of feathered sheets to the combing devices in such a manner that the combing evices will actto properly separate The lifting mechanism The V lifting the sheets. This involves-aregulation of the feed of the bank tosuit the relative arrangement of the sheets in the part of the bank b6- ing operated upon, there being little or no feed when the successive sheets are little feathered and therebeing a sufficient feed to keep the bank up to the combingdevices when the'sheetsiare-feathered to an unusual extent.

Further features of invention relate to the delivering devices to which individual sheets are presented and forwarded to a machine for further actin thereon. These features may be embodied 5 in any type of feeding-machines where individual sheets are to be accurately forwarde and positioned y these devices the sheets are started forward with a gradually-increasing speed and are brought into position wit 7 10 a gradually-retarded.motion, so that the successive sheets are accurately and uniformly presentedin position to be acted upon by the machine t'o which theyl are being fed; 1 In the drawings I ave shown a feedingmachine embodying all the features of invention which is constructed separate individual sheets from a feathered bankof sheets and deliver the sheets successively to thefro'ntguides of a printing-press. In the drawings, Figures 1,2, and 3, taken together, show a plan view of the machine. Figs. 4,5,,and elevation. Fig show a sectional elevation. F 12 are detail views of certain parts to be (I scribed. 'Fig. 13 is anelevation correspon ing to Fig. 5, but showing the other side of the machine; and Fig. 14 is a modified form 1 of mechanism for lowering the combing-rolls. The feathered bank of sheets from which the individual sheets are separated is .su orted upon a feed-table 1 and is gradually ed forwrd the sheets are removedby hich extend along the upper sur- ,pass over two series together pulle s 3 and 4, g 5 an The bank of sheets is Suppl the table 1 by means of a loader, by t ation of which a bank of feathered sheets is laid upon the table 1 and by which the supply maybe replenishedat suitable intervals without inconvenience andwithout interrupting the operation of the machine. This loader consists of a supply-table 7, arranged above the feed-table, and devices w 'ch as the loader is o erated act to transfer a bank of feathered s eets from the supp table and lay the bank upon the feed-table. The table 7 is carried by side frames 8, which are provided with rolls 9, arranged to run upon guiding-rails 10 at each side of the feedtable. The loader is provided with a curved uid eway leading from the supply-table to the feed-table, through which the ,bank of sheets 5 5 passes to the feed-t able and by which the posifeed-table. This curved-guideway is formed between the periphery of a drum 11 and a series of curve guides 12", ,secured u on a transverse rod 13, carried by the side rames At the entrance of the guideway pressure-rolls 14 are arranged tobear. upon the bank of sheets an hold it against the drum 11 and also direct it into the guideway.

These rolls-are carried by a shaft 15, mounted in and arrange to 6 taken together, show a side by which the sheets are 4 the feed-table, without sprocketwheel ly to the feed tion of the bank is reversed as it is laid upon the 1 shaft 17 also carries a series of guides 18,

spac'ebetween the rolls which bridge over the i and .14 and the guid'es'lfl tion of the cured to a shaft 'heels19, arran ed: to en screw-shafts 20 at the si esof the eed-table By turning the shaft 12 the loader is operated to lay the bank of feathered sheets upon the feed-table. As theshaft 12 is revolved the drum 11 acts to feed the bankthrough the curved guideway, and at the same time theworm-wheels'travel along the screw-shafts and move the loader at the spee of the movement 0 bank through the curved guideway, so that the bank is transferred from the supply form a continua- The drum 11 is se- 12, to which are also secured -tab le' and laid upon disturbin that part of the bankalready upon the eedtable. Duririg'the operation of the loader the wormwheels act as gears and the screw-shafts act as stationary racks which cooperate with the gears to cause a travel offth loaderover the During the operation o t e loader the rolls 14 are driven from the shaft 12 through a sprocket-chain-21, passing over a sprocket-wheel22 on shaft 12 and over a. 23, loose on shaft 17 and con nected with a pinion 24, which meshes with a pinion 25 on shaft 15.- The shaft 12 is revolved'through a worm 2,6, engaging one o the worm-wheels 1'9 and carrying a bevelis engagedby a bevel-gear 28,

gear 27, which securedto a short shaft1,29, to the end of r-ves to rotate the Y which is secured a crank-handle 30.

The worm 26 not only drum 11, but it also serve venting rotation of the wormrwheels 19 when the loader is not being operate so that during the feed of the bank. to the separating devices the worm-wheels may act as nuts for cowith the screwhafts 20 to move the loader with the bank as it is'fed forward. The two screw-shafts 20 are connected to ro chain 31, passing over the ends of the shafts. haft 5,

advance the tapes ward the bank of The rotation of the of the bank and also the movement 0 loader with the bank is effected by mechanism which will be described later. As the bank upon the feed-table is reduced the loader will approach the separating devices, and therefore the position of the loader upon the feed-table will indicate to the -oper-- ator the size of the bank upon the feed-table. In supplyin the bank to the'feed-ta'ble the operation o the loader will be discontinue while the rear end of the bank is still on the supply-table, so that the operator can readily add a fresh supply-on the rear of the pile and shaft 20 to effect the feed f the l as a lock for pre- '35 of this device is relieved during the delivery the bank during the feed'of the bank, there is no danger that the rear end of the "bank will enter the curved guideway, where it'would be difficult if not impossible to properly build onto the bank with the fresh supply. The supply-table is provided with an adjustable side guide for positioning the bank laterally as it is supplied to the table.

The devices for separating the sheets from the bank of feathered sheets consist of two combing-rolls, each of which acts'to advance one side of the top sheet until by the action of the front edge of the sheet the combing-roll is thrown out of action. In case the edge of the sheet at one side reaches the proper position before the-other the combing-roll at that side will be thrown out, while the other roll will continue in action until the front edge at that side is in proper position. I11 order that the front edge of the sheet may be accurately alincd by this action of the combing-rolls,"a

not at all essential.

device is provided in connection with each combing-roll which will act to Dress upon the top sheet and prevent further 'orward moves menfo'f the sheet at that side when the corresponding combing-roll ceases to act. During the continued action of the other combing-roll the sheet will swing about the point where this device presses on the sheet, thus accurately squaring the sheet. The pressure ofthe sheet and also during the combing action of the corresponding combing-roll. To secure the best results, the pressure should be entirely removed during the delivery and combing. and this is most successfully done by disengaging the device from the sheets during the periodswhen the pressure should be relieved, although this is not essential in order to secure beneficial results. Since the sheet-retaining device should apply its holding pressure to the top sheet at the time the corresponding combing-roll is thrown out of action, the construction may by simplified by utilizing this same device as the sheet-retain ing device and as a part of the mechanism for throwin out the combingroll, although such double 'unction for the retaining device is Each combing-roll is controlled by an independent set of devices, and as these sets of devices are duplicates of each other in construction and operation a description of one set willbe suflicient.

The combing-roll 36 is mounted in an arm 37, loosely mounted on a continuously-running shaft 38, to which the combing-roll is geared through a series of gears 39, so that it rotates continuously. The arm 37 is connectedwith a shaft 41 by a link 40, the upper J end of which isloose uponsaid shaft. The

shaft 41 is carried in arms 42, securedto a rock-sleeve 43, loosely mounted upon a transverse rod 44, and by raising and lowering the shaft 41 the combing-roll is thrown out of and into action. The mechanism for raising thecombing-roll, and thus throwing it out of action, consists of an arm 45, loosely mounted on the hub of arm37 and connected with the shaft 41 by toggle-links '46 47, The link 46 is pivoted to the arm and to the lower end of link 47, and link 47 is secured to shaft 41, which is rocked at proper timesto straighten or to contract the to gle. The arim 45 is so -arranged that when t e toggle-links are operg ated to straighten the togg e the free end of the arm will first engage the top of the bank of sheets and then the further movement of the to gle in straightening will raise the rod 41, and consequently the arm 37 and comb ing-roll. The arm 45 now acts as a clamp for holding the'top sheets in place where it is engaged by the clamp during any further combing action of the other combing-roll until the delivery devices act upon the top sheet. When the delivery devices are about to act, the rock-sleeve 43 is operated to raise the shaft 41, and thereby lift the clam ingarm 45 from the bank of sheets. The s eeve 43 is thus rocked by a cam 48, secured to a cam-shaft 49 and arranged to operate upon an arm 50, secured to sleeve 43.

The shaft 41 is rocked to straighten the" toggle, and thus lift the combing-roll, by the action of a spring 51, one end of which is connected to one of the arms 42 and the other end of which is connected to the upper end of a lever 52, which is connected by a link 53 with an arm 54, secured to the shaft 41. Through these connections the spring tends to rock the shaft41 in a direction to straighten the toggle and lift the combing-roll. The lifting devices are held out of operation and their operation controlled by alat'ch 55, arranged to engage the lower end of lever 52 and hold said lever against the tension of the spring 51. The latch 55 is formed on an arm 56, secured to a sleeve 57 which is loosely mounted on a transverse rod 58.

The mechanism for operating the latch 55, and thus arresting the action of the combing roll, consists of a disk 59, secured to the shaft 49, and a pawl 60, arrangedto engage teeth on the disk, and thus connect the operating or, driving disk and the controlling-latch. The pawl 60 is connected with the latch 55 by being secured to a rock-shaft 61, mounted in IOC the arm 56, and a similar arm 62 at the opposhaft 61 and swing its free end extending the disk disengages .of the lever of the sheets and into a slot 1 its action by the sheetthe combing roll is acformed in a plate 64 at the front of the feed- 1 curately and surely controlled, and thedevices table. When the pawl is engaged with the for eiiecting the control of the combing-roll disk, it is thrown downward, rocking the arms by the sheet have comparatively little moveacross the path 56 and 62 and sleeve 57, and at the same time I ment and maybe quickly and accurately reset.

the pawl is carried away from the disk. The l By the employment of a clamp for engagmovement of the arm 56-under the action of in the top sheet when the combing-roll is the latch 55 from the end raised the top sheet as well as those directly 52, so that the liftin mechanism under it are under positive control after the s operated and the action of t e combin combing-roll ceases to act and before the top roll arrested. Thus the mechanism whic sheet is seized by the delivery controls the combing-roll is positively andresulting accuracy and certainty in the posi- ,while its operation is accu-. tioning of the sheet.

surely operated rately controlled by a sensitive. trip whlc While the top sheet is being the delivery devices,

removed by sheets the remaining may be operated by the. edge of'a thin sheet of paper. l the bank are held from displacement, by After the combing-roll has been thrown clamping-fingers 72, which rest upon the and lifts the 1 arm 52 by reason of the weight of the connecte bank back of the top sheet.

are adjustably secured upon ried in arms 74, secured to aleeve 75, which ted on a transverse shaft 76.

out of action the arm remains upon and clamps the pile until the delivering devices seize the top sheet, at which-time the cam 48, by means 'of the arm 50,rocks the sleeve 43 clamping;arm 45 from the bank The cam 48 holds the clampingarm in raised position until the top sheet has been removed a (1 then allows the. arms 42 and arm 37, which support the clamping-arm and combing-roll, to move toward the pile. Meanwhile the lifting mechanism and the atch 55 have been reset, so that controlling-l when the arm 37 is lowered by the cam 48 bank and a shaft 73, carthe screw-shafts By sliding the bearing-blocks upon the screw- 'rodsthe position of the clamping-fingers may be ad'usted for different lengths of sheets. The biocks are caused to move in unison with. out binding upon the shafts 20 by means 0 gears 78, secured to theends' of shaft 76, and which rollalong the screw-threads on the shafts as the blocks are adjusted. The parts are held in adjusted position by a clamp 79 on one of the bearing-blocks 77, which engages a fixed rod 80, extending rea'rwardly from rod 44. a In order to give the clamping-fingers a right-line movement, so that they may act uniformly upon-banksof different thickness and ma maintain their relation to the combing-rolls whatever the thickness of the bank,

the combing-roll again engages the is thus thrown into action. The means for resetting the lifting mechanism consists of a cam 65, loosely mounted on the sleeve 57 and arranged to engage a roll 66 on the arm 52. The cam 65 is continuously rotated bya gear 67,secured to the cam-shaft 49 and engaging a similar gear 68, secured to the cam. he cam is timed to rock the arm 52 while the arm 50 is engaged with cam 48, and thus swing the links 46 and 47 into the the shaft 73 is rocked as it swings up an relative positions shown in ig. 8 and at the -down. This is done by means of a link 81, same time bring the end of arm52 into such pivoted to a bearing-block 77' and to an arm position that the latch 55 may swing above 82, secured to the rod 73, Figs. 2 and 5. it and hold it against the tension of spring 51. The timing of the clamping-fingers should The latch may swing into position above the be the same whatever the thickness of that part of the blank below the fingers. and to insure the accurate t'ming'of the fingers t e mechanism for lifting the fingers is so con- ,structed that the always lifted the same distance above the top of the bank whatever the position of the tdp of the bank. In the form of such mechanism whichl have shown the clamping-fingers are lifted by a pawl 83, which has a constant throw and is arranged to engage and disengage a toothed segment 84, formed on one of the arms 74. The pawl 83 is pivoted on a reciprocatinglever 85 and isdrawn toward the toothed parts, or a spring may be connected thereto to draw it toward the arm 52, and it may swinginto position as soon asthe end of arm 52 passes below the latch 55. To avoid a sudden return of the latch and connecte arts when the arm 52 is swung downwar and the consequent danger of prematurely engaging the pawl with the teeth of disk 59, Iprefer to provide a cam 70, Figs. 12 and 13, for controlling the return of the latch. The cam is secured to the camshaft 49 and engages the end of an arm 71, secured to the sleeve 1. The cam is so shaped an segment 84 by a spring 86. As the pawl detimed that it causes the latch and connected scends it is disengaged from thesegment by a stationary cam-plate or guard 87, arrange to engage a pin 88, projecting from the pawl. When the pawl is disengaged from the seg ment, the clamping-fingers are free to'descend the combing-roll out of action and controlling devices, with a These fingers until they engage and rest upon the bank of sheets. When the pawl again moves upward, it will engage one of the teeth of the segment and raise the clamping-fingers a certain distance from the top of the bank. Thus each time theclampingding'ers are lowered they are disconnected from the lifting mech anism, and each time the lifting mechanism acts it lifts the clamping-fingers the same distance. Theaction of the fingers may therefore be accurately timed with relation to the other devices,.a nd the timing is unaffected by variations in the positiornof the top of the bank of sheets.

5 The pawl-lever S5 is reoiprocated through engagement with a bar 89, pivoted to the upper ends of two levers maintained in parallel relation by a second bar 91, pivoted to their lower ends, and the s lire rocked to move-the down by means of a cam 92, secured to earnshe f1 +19 and engaging one end of a lever 93,

the other end of which is connected with one i if the levers 90 by a, link 94. The bar 89 eX- 5 tends along the sideiofthefecd-table and-the on d of the pawl-lever 85 ri'destonsaid bar,

whatever the adjustment of the bearingblochs S7.

The combing-rolls are lowered upon the 0 ha nil; of sheets simultaneously, and each continues to act until the front edge of the top sheet at the corres ouding side of the sheet acts upon the trip-lbver 63 atthat side when the action ofthat combing-rollis arrested, the

'5 o iher roll continuing to advance the other side of the sheet until it is in proper position to arrest the action of said roll. Thus the front 'edges of successive sheets are broughtinto the same line and into position to be removed and delivered to other machines or devices.

- in feeding sheets to machines wherein accurate register or positioning of the sheets is esseniial--as, for instance, in feeding to a printing pressit is important that the 5 ahnemcnt of the frontedge of the sheet shguld not be disturbed by the delivery deand also that the successive sheets should be brought into the same position by the delivery devices. To insure this and uniform action of the delivery devices, .iese'devices are so operated and arranged dial they arc at substantially a state of rest n they grasp the sheet and are also at iutially a'state of rest when they cease to actuoon the sheet, the niowunent of the 'dm'icesibcing accelerated to start the sheet ,and being retarded to gradually bring it to a state of rest. Vith this action of the delivvery devices the sheets ma be accurately re- 6Q moved from the position in which they are presented to the'delivery devices and be accurately and rapidly forwarded and delivered n. positionto be further acted'upon. So

,far as the eonstructionand operation 'ofthe 6 5' delivery devices themselvesare concerned it The levers are bar 89 up and 1 rolls 1' 05 by is immaterial what devices are employed for presenting the sheets successively thereto, and the features of invention relating to the delivery devices may be employed in various types of feeding-machines. It will also be understood that the invention is not limited to delivery devices embodying rolls for acting upon the sheet, although I prefer to employ such delivery devices, and have therefore embodied them in the machine which I have shown.

In this machine the delivery devices c0nsist of deliveryrolls, to which the sheet is presented by the combing-rolls and by which the sheet is advanced to forwarding-rolls, which bring it to a state of rest at the front guides of a printing-press. The lower delivcry-rolls are secured to a shaft 96, mountedin fixed bearings, while the upper cooper ating rolls 07 aresecurcd to a shaft 98, carried in arms 99,

rolls 97 h the cam 92 which lowers and raises the clamping-lingers 72 through an arm 101,

secured to -shaft 100 and arranged to engage a roll 102 on the lever 93. The lower forwarding-rolls 103 are secured to ashaft 104;, mounted in fixed bearings, while the upper cooperating rolls, 105 are mounted upon arms 106, secured to a reel -shaft 107. The shaft 107 is rocked to raise and lower the a earn 108, secured to the camshaft 10, which engages an arm 109, secured to shaft 107. The lower rolls 95 and 103 are connected, so that they have the same surface speed, by a chain 110', passing over sprocket-wheels 111. on-the ends of shafts 96 and 104. Therolls are operated through a segment 112, Fig. 5, which engages a pinion 113 on the shaft 96. The segment 112 is oscillated from a crank-pin 114,- to which it. is connected by a link 115. The crank-pin is carried by a gear 116, secured to the end of cam-sh aft 49 and connected with thedrivin shaft 1 17 through pinions 118-. The shaft 117 also drives the shaft 38 through gear 38"'and pinion 39.

The parts are so timed that the rolls 0? are lowered upon the rolls 95 at the limit of the back stroke of the segment 112whcn the crank-pin 11% is passing the dead-center and when,therefore, the roll 05st rest. As the crank-pin passes the vances, the roll 05 starts forward with a grar'h ually-iucreasing speed, and as the cranh pin' approaches tho'dead-center at the'end of the advance the roll 95 is gradually brought to rest. sponds to the movement of the rolls 95. The distance between the rolls 95 and 103 such that the sheet enters between rolls .105 and 103 before itsrear end leaves the rolls 9'7 and 95 when feediug the shortestlength of sheets which the machine is to feed, and the rota tion ofthe' rolls 95 and. 103 is such-that the dead-center and ad-' The movement of the rolls '103 ,corrc-.

secured to a rock-shaft 100. The shsft100 isrocked to lower and raise the loo length of time the roll is in actioi'i-.-that is to say, the length of cmb.will depend (other conditions being the same) upon the distance the front edge of the sheet is from the trip which controls the combing roll. If the 70 front edge ofthe sheet is -'so far from the trip when the combing-rolls begin to act that the rolls are lifted from the bank before the sheet operates the trip, then the sheet will not be seized by the de ivery devices. On the other 75 hand, if the edge of the top sheet is near the trip and there is little or no distance between the ed es of the two top sheets then the combing-r0 s may not act long enough to separate front edge of the sheet has been advanced to the front guides 119 of the printin press when the rolls are brought to rest. he rolls 97 may be lifted any time after the rear en of the sheet has passedand are lifted when the rolls 95-a're at rest at the end of their forward rotation..- The rolls 105 are lifted as soon as the rolls 103 have come to rest, an the sheet is then free to be-moved sidewise by to the side register devices. In order that the rear end of the sheet when feeding long sheets ma be withdrawn from between rol s 103 an 105 before the rolls 5 are lowered, the cam 108 for lowering these rolls is so shape that they are not lowered until after the rolls 97 have been lowered and the next sheet started forward, but are lowered before the front end of this sheet reaches them.

In passing from the rolls 95 to the front guides 119 of the press the sheets pass over guides 120 and over a. plate 121 at the front end of the g'uides.- The sheets are prevented from rising from the guides and plate by the arms 106 and fingers 122, which extend over 5 the late 121.

T 1e side register devices may be of any suitable construction to en age the edgeof the sheet and draw it latera 1 against a side gage 123. The side register evices are Hull- 3 cated at 124 and are carried by a transverse reciprocating bar 125, there being two register devices, so that the sheets may be registered at either side. The device 124 at the right, Fig. 3, is shown in use, while the other is turned up out of the way. The bar 125 is reciprocated by a spiral segment 126, ar ranged to engage a spiral rack 127 ,secured to the end of the bar 125. I Since the bar is held from rotation, the oscillation of the segment 4 serves to reciprocate the bar. The segmen is oscillated from a rock-levenil28, to which it is connected by a link 129. The rock-lever is provided with two ins 130, one on veac side of" its pivot, and the link is connected to one or the other of thesepins, according to the register device which is to be operated. By changing the connection the timing of the. reciprocation of the bar 125- is reversed to change the register fromone side to the other. 5 The rock-lever 128 is operated by a cam 131, formed in the face of gear 116 through a lever 132 and link 133. I I In machines in which a feathered bank of 4 sheets are fed to combing-rolls, which act to 5'5 comb out the sheets at the front of the bank the'feed of the bank should be so regulated that the successive sheets will be presente to the action of the combing-rolls in as nearly the same relation as practicable, and the feed should also be effected without materiall disturbing the relation of the sheets in the dif ferent parts of the bank. In these machines the combing-rolls cause a forward movement in a number of sheets, the extent of move- 6 5 Inent being greatest in the top sheet, and the sheets being seized by the delivery rolls. When, therefore, the combing-rolls are remaining in action a long time-that is, when the comb is long-the bank should be fed for- .ward and the feeding movements shoul con 5 tinue as long as ,the successive combs remainlongf I have accordin ly devised a feedin mechanism which will fe d the bank forwar during the combing interval succeeding a long comb-that is to sa whenever there 9 is an abnormally lon com the bank will be fed forward during t e next comb, In case the edges of succeeding sheets are widely separated the succeeding comb will also be a long comb and there should,.therefore, be a 9 lar e feed ofthe bank. On the other hand, if t e edges of succeeding sheets are near together the succeeding comb will be'short and the feed of the bank ned not be so great. therefore also construct the feeding mechan-v '100 ism that. the feed succeedin a long comb shall beproportional' to the ength of comb succeedin the long comb. It is desirable that the eedin movements of thepile be 7 comparatively s ow, and therefore in order to I 5 et such afeed, and also acomparativelylarge eed, I so construct thefeeding mechanism' that it feeds thebank during the entire combing interval succeeding a lon 1 comb. I have also found that the comb wil be-more regular 1- 1 if the bank is fed when there is an increase in the comb. and I accordingly construct the feeding "mechanism so that the bank isfed when a, comb is longer than the"preceding All these features I have embodied in a simple mechanism; but it will be understood that it is not essential to a-mechanism embodying this part of my invention that it con? struction shown. v

. 'As I have already explained the feed of the bank of feathered sheets is effected by rotation of the screw-shafts 20. The mechanism for rotating the screw-shafts comprises-a I 5 ratchet connected with one of the shaftsand a pawl the forward throw of which depends upon the length of time thecombing-ro'lls are in action. In the construction shown the ratchet is in the form of a toothed wheel 134', 3

the two sheetssufficiently to prevent both 0 tain all the features .onthat it be of the con 1 connected with one of the screw shafts through bevel-gears 135. Thepawl 136 for operating the ratchet iscarried by a lever The lever is moved in a direction to advance the ratchet-Wheel by a spring 138, connected to thelower end of the lever, and is moved in the opposite. direction against the tension of the spring by a reciprocating rod 139. The rod 139 is connected with the pawl carrying leverby means of a pin 140, which engages a slot 141 in the rod, and' the rod is reciprocated by a crank 142, secured to the end of the cam-shaft 49. of the end of the slot 141 with the pin 140 the pawl on its return stroke is always moved to the same position. The forward movement of the pawl is controlled from the Iii-ting mechanism for through a ratchet-bar 143 and a cooperating stop-pawl 144, which is operated by the lifting mechanism. The ratchet-bar 143 is pivoted to the end of the pawl-lever 137 and rides on a roll 14 4 The pawl 144 is arranged to engra e teeth on the ratchet-bar and is operatedfio w it rock-lever 14-5, the end of which is connected by a link 146 with the lower end of a lever 1 .17, the upper end of which is connected to one of the levers 52; The hub of the pawl is coupled to the hub of the lever 145, so that there may be lost moticn between the parts to enable the movement of the lifting devices to continue after the pawl 144 has engaged the bar 143.

The parts are so timed that the pawl is in its rear position when the combing-rolls are ihrown into action and the pawl is advancing during "the combing. When the conibin roll is tliitiw n out of action, the lever 147 IS rocked he pawl is engaged with the ratchet-bdrhhd stops the movement thereof,

5c the combing ends.

feed of the bank.

will be less than a tooth-space, and consc and consequently the forward movement of [than 1,136... i F139 inoves idly until the end Tof slot gai'l'i erigages'pin 140, when the pawl etu ed toits rear position. If the pawl ass-err position lies directly back of a .tooth in the ratchet, then on the-advance of the pawl there will be a feed ofthe bank beginning with the combing and ending when If this comb islong,the ratchet will "be advanced the length of a tooth, so that on the return stroke of the pawl it will again lie back of a tooth, and consequently on the next comb there will be a The feeding movements of the bank will continue as long asthecomb is sufliciently long for the ratchet to be advanced a tooth-space. When a short comb occurs, the forward movement of the pawl quently thepawl on its return will not pass beyond the end-ofthe, tooth and there will be the ratchet at the beginning of,}thejs ucc'cedmg comb. There may be a 1;. H ig f eed ng movement atthe end of this comb,

By the engagement one of the combing-rolls.

After the pawl-lever stops however, provided this comb is longer than the one before. In such case the pawl will engage the same tooth that it did on its previous forward iovement and advance the ratchet a furthh r distance, dependent upon the increase in the length of comb. If this comb is not long enough for the pawl to move through a toothe'space, there will be no feed at the beginning of the next comb. Whenever there is a comb'longer than those preceding .it, there will'be a feed of the bank during the lane? art cf the comb; otherwise there will be no eed; Whenever there isa comb sulf- 'ciently s ace,itwill be followed by a feed extending t ough the next comb.

In Fig. 14 I have shown a'modified form of mechanism for lowering t is combing-rolls upon the bank of sheets which is especially banks which vary widely in thickness. ith this mechanism the combing-rolls are al lifted to the same distance abovethe top o t e .bank without regard to the thickness or the bank, so that the extent of movement does not vary with the thickness of the bank, but is constant with a resulting accuracy in the timing of the combing-rolls and a reduction in the extent of movement required to adapt the rolls for acting upon both thin and thick banks. In the form of such mechanism shown in Fi 14 the combing-rolls are raised and lowered .mounted on the rod 44 between the two central arms 42 and having projecting arms 151, extending under said arms 4.2. To the upper end of the lever 150 is connected a ratchetbar 152, the free end of which is supported. on rod 58. The bar 152 is operated to lift the arms 42, and through'them the combing rolls and clamps 45, by means of a pawl 153, carried upon a lever 154, one arm of which rides on a cam 155, secured to camshaft 49/ The pawl is provided with a stop-pin 156, which -retract the pawl,so that the pawl is lifted from engagement with the teeth on the bar.

A spring 158 connects the pawl 153 and rocklever 150 and tends to hold tie arms 1.51- in engagement with arms 42 and also to draw the pin 156 into engagement with lever 154. it is obvious that two springs might be employed; but the construction is simplified by using one spring. When the lever 154 passes from the high to the low the pawl 153 moves to the ri ht in Fig. 14, thus lowering the combing-rolls until the pin 156 strikes the lever 154, after which continued movement of the lever 154 disengages the pawl from the bar 152, allowing the comb- When the earn 155 rocks the lever 154.311 the. opposite direction, the pawl engages the ratchet-bar and lifts the combing-rolls and at the same time the clamp 15. The distance useful in machines designed for acting upon 1 engages the lever 154as the lever 18 moved to part of the cam 155, i

long for the pawl to advance a tooth- I ways by a rock-lever 150, loosely IOL.

ing rolls to' rest upon the bank of sheets.

\ thickness of the .B is

which the coin hing-rolls are lifted will be sub' stantiallyconstant without regard to the initial positions of the rolls and variations in the 7 bank will not affect the timing of the rolls with respect to the other operations of the machine.

' What I claim, and desire to secure by Let- I. 1na sheet-feeder the combination with a support, of a movable loader, provided with means for laying a bank of feathered sheets upon said support as it moves over said support, substantially as described.

2. In a sheet-feeder the combination with a support, of a loader, means for operating said loader to lay a bank of feathered sheets upon said support, and means for feeding forward said bank and loader, substantially as described.

3. In a sheet-feeder the combination with sheet-separating devices, of a feed table, a 1 loader, means for operating said loader to lay sheets upon said feed- 5. In a sheet-feeder the combination with a feed-table; of a movable loader comprising a supply-table, a feed-drum between the end of the supplytable and feed-table, curved guides cooperating with said feed drum to ,form a curved guideway leading from the sup-- ply-table to the feedtable, and means for rotatmg said drum as the loader moves over the drum on one side of said curved supply-table, substantially as described.

6. In a sheet-feeder the combination with a feed-table, of a loader comprising a supplytable, a curved guideway leading from said supplytable to said feedtable, a feedingguideway, a rack a gear connected with said drum and en-,- gaging said rack whereby as the loader is moved the drum is rotated, substantially as described.

7. In a sheet-feeder the combination with a feed-table, of a loader comprisinga supplytable and feeding means for transferring a bank of feathered sheets from the supply-table to the feedingiable, a worm-wheel connected to said means, a screw-shaft engaged by said worm-wheel, whereby the operation of the feeding means is accompanied by a movement of the loader over the 'l'eisd-iiabln, and means for locking the worm-wheel whereby a rotation of the screw-shaft advances the loader without operating the feedingmeans, substantially as described.

8. In a sheet-feeder the combination with a feedtable, and means for advancing a feathered bank of sheets thereon,'of a loader comprising a supply-table, a curved guideway leading from said supply-table to said feed-table, a feed-drum at one side of said guideway, Worm-wheels connected with said drum, screw shafts engaging said wormwheels, means for locking said worm-wheels, whereby rotation of said shafts or rotation of said worm-wheels will move said loader, substantially as described.

9. In a sheet-feeder the combination with a feed-table of a loader comprising a supplytable, a drum between the tables, curved guides cooperating with said drum to form a curved guideway, pressure-rolls cooperating with said drum to feed a bank of feathered sheets through the guideway and means for rotating said drum and rolls and for moving the loader over the feedtable, substantially as described.

10. In a sheet-feeder the combination with feeding mechanism, of mechanism for arresting the action of. the same, a latch for engaging said arresting mechanism and holding it out of operation, a pawl through the movement of which the latch is disengaged, and a toothed member for operating said pawl with which the pawl is en aged by the action of the sheet, siibstantial y as described- 1 1. In a sheet-feeder the combination with a feeding device, of mechanism for arresting the action of the same, a latch for engaging said arresting mechanism and holding it out of operation, a pawl through the movement of which the latch is' disengaged, a toothed member for operating said pawl with which the pawl is engaged by the action of the sheet, and mechanism for resetting the arresting mechanism, substantially as described. Y

12. In a sheet-feeder the combination with a combing-roll, of mechanism for lifting the same from the sheets, 'a latch for engaging said lifting mechanism and holdin itout of action, a awl connected with saidIatch, and a toothe member for operatingsaid pawl to disengage said latch, and means for engaging said pawl with said toothed member by the action of the sheet, substantially as de- I scribed. a

13. In a sheet-feederthe combination with a combing-roll, of devices for lifting the same from the sheets, alever connected with said devices, a latch for engaging said lever and preventing its movement, a pawl connected with said latch, a toothed member for operatmg said pawl to disengage said latch,-means for engaging said pawl with said toothed member by the action of the; sheet,iind a cam for returlnng said lever into position to beengaged by said latch, substantially as described.

14. In a sheet-feeder the combination an h erased a combingroll, of an arm for engaging the sheets, a toggle connected with said arm and combing-roll, mechanism controlled by the sheet for straightening the toggle to bring the arm upon the sheets and li t the combingroll, substantially as described.

15. In a sheet-feeder. the combination with is sup-norted a to le between said arm and J I U i shaft, mechanism controlled by the sheet for straightening the toggle to bring the arm upon the sheets and lift the combing-roll, and mechanism for thereafter lifting said arm from the sheets, substantially as described.

17. In a sheet-feeder the combination with a combing-rollpcf an arm for engaging the sheets, a toggle connected with said arm and combingaoll, mechanism controlled by the sheet for straightening said toggle to bring the arm upon the sheets and lift the combingroll, mechanism for raising and lowering the arm and combin roll, and mechanism for contracting the toggle prior to the lowering of the combing-roll and arm, substantially as described.

18. In a sheet-feeder the combination with ng-roll, of an arm for engaging the sheets, devices oetween the arm and roll for lifting the roll when the arm is depressed, sheetmontrolled mechanism for. operating said devices to bring the arm upon the sheets and lift the coml'iing-roll, and mechanism for lifting said arm from the sheets, substantially as described.

19. In a sheetieeder the combination with a combing-roll, of an arm for engagingtlie sheets, devices between the arm and roll for lifting the roll when the arm is depressed, sheet-controlled mechanism for operating ices to bring the arm upon the sheets said dc :1 nd lilt the emnbingwoll, mechanism for raising and lowering the arm and combing reehand mechanism for resetting thedevices between the arm and roll prior to the lowering of the arm and roll, substantially as described.

20. in a shoet-feeder the combination with a combing-roll, of a clamp arranged to engage the top sheet and hold it in place and means for engaging said clamp with the top sheet when the combing-roll is thrown out of action, substantially as described. 21. In a sheetdeeder the combination with a con1bingroll, of delivery devices, a clamp, means for engaging the clamp withtlio top sheet when the combing-roll is thrown out of action, and means for disengaging said clamp from the sheet when the delivery devices are thrown into action, substantially as described.

22. In a sheet-feeder the combination with a combing-roll, of delivery devices, a clamp, means for engaging said clamp with the top sheet when the combing-roll is thrown out of action and disengaging said clamp when the delivery devices are thrown into action, a second clamp and means for engaging said clamp with the second sheetprior to the action oi the delivery devices anddiscngaging said clamp prior to the action of the combingroll, substantially as described.

23. In a sheet-feeder the combination with sheet-separating devices of a clamp for en; gaging the sheets, mechanism for lowering said clamp upon banks of varying height and raising said clamp a substantially fixed distance above the top of the bank, substantially as described.

24. In a sheet-feeder the combination with a clamp of a ratchet connected therewith, a reciprocating pawl for engaging said ratchet to raise and lower said clamp, and means for disengaging said pawl on lowering stroke,

and engaging it on the raising stroke, whereby the clamp is raised the same distance above the sheets each time, substantially as described.

25. In a sheet-feeder the combination with sheet-separating devices, delivery devices to which the sheets are presented by the separating devices, guides in front of which the sheets are delivered by the delivery devices, and means for operating the delivery devices to start the sheets with an acceleratedmotion and to bring the sheet into positionat the front guides with a retarded. motion, substantially as described.

26. In a sheet-feeder the combination with combing-rolls the action of which is arrested by the top' sheet, delivery devices to which the sheet is presented by the combing-rolls, and means for operating the delivery devices to grasp and release the sheet when both the sheet and delivery devices are at substantially a state of rest, substantially as described. I

27. In a sheet-feeder the combination of a set of rolls to which the sheets are presented, a set of, forwarding-rolls, guides for supporting the sheets advanced by said 'rolls, and means for intermittently engaging the rolls in each set with each other, and means for rotating said rolls when engaged with an accelerated and then a retarded speed, substantially as described.

.28. In a sheet-feeder the combination of rolls 95, guides 120, rolls 103, a crank, connections between sa'id crank and rolls 95 and 103 for rotating'said rolls, drop-rolls 97 and 105 for cooperating with rolls 95 and 103, to advance the shoot, substantially as described.

29. In a sheet-feeder the combination with a combing device controlled by the sheet advanced thereby, of mechanism for feeding a bank of feathered sheetsto said device, and means for operating said mechanism during the comb succeeding along comb, substantially as described.

30. In a sheet-feeder the combination with a combing device controlled by the sheet adthe bank of sheets when there is an increase in the length of comb, s.ubstant ially,as described. I

32. Ina sheet-feeder the combination with a combing device controlled by the sheet ad- .vanced thereby, of mechanism for feeding a bank of feathered sheets to said device, and

means-for operating said' mechanism when there is an increase in the comb to feed the bank av distance proportional to the increase, substantiallyas described.

In asheet-feeder the combfi'i'attoh with a combing device, of mechanism for feeding a bank of feathered sheets tosaid device,

comprising a ratchet and a reciprocating,

pawl, and means dependent upon the advance" of the sheet by the combing device for con trolling the advancing action of said pawl,

substantially as described.

34. In a sheet-feeder the combination with a combing device, of mechanism for feeding a bank of feathered sheets to said device, comprising a ratchet and a reciprocating pawl,

' and means dependent upon the advance of 'the sheet by'the combing device for arresting the advancing action of said pawl, substantially as described.

35. In a shcet-leeder the combination with a combing device, of mechanism for feeding a bank of feathered sheets to said device, coinprising a ratchet and reciprocating pawl, and means dependent upon the advance of the .sheet by the eombing device for arresting the advancecf said pawl, substan'tiallv as de scribed. 3 a 4 36. In a sheet-feeder the combination with a combing device, of mechanism for feeding a .bank of feathered sheets to said device coinprising a ratchet, a pawl, means for advancing said pawl, means for'returmng said pawl to initial position, and sheet-controlled means for arresting said advancing means, substantially as .described;

37. Ina sheet-feeder the combination with a combing device, of mechanism for feeding a trance bank of featheredsheets to said device com prising a ratchet, a pawl, a pawl-carrying lever, a reciprocating rod for moving said lever in one direction, a spring forinoving said lever in the other direction, a ratchet-bar connected with saidlever, and .a stop-pawl en gaged with said bar by the action of the sheet, substantially as described.

38. In a sheet-feeder, the combination with a combingroll, of mechanism for lowering said roll upon banks of varying thickness and raising said roll a substantially fixed distance above the top of the bank, substan tially as described.

39. In a sheet-feeder, the combination with a combing-roll, of a ratchet connected therewith, a reciprocatingpawl for engaging. said ratchet to raise lower said roll which disengages said ratchet on the lowering stroke, whereby the combing-roll is raised substantially the same distance above the sheets each time, substantially as described.

40. In a sheet-feeder the combination with a combing-roll, of a lever for raising and lowering the same, a ratchet-bar connected to said lever, a'pawl-carrying lever, a pawl carried by said pawl-carrying lever, a stop for the pawl 'wliercby'the pawl discngagesthe ratchet-bar on the return stroke, and a cam for oscillating said pawl-carrying.lever, substantially as described.

41. In a sheet-feeder the combination with sheet-separating devices, delivery devices provided with travelii'ig surfaces for engaging and feeding forward the sheets to which the sheets are presented by the separating de vices, guides in front of which the sheets are delivered by the delivery devices, and means for starting said traveling surfaces with an accelerated motion and stopping them withv retarded motion, substantially as described.

412. In asheet-feeder the combination of shcct-separating devices, delivery devices provided with traveling surfaces actingprogressively along the sheet to feed. it forward, guides in front of which the sheets are delivered by-the delivery devices, and .nieans for moving said traveling surfaces from substantially a state of rest with an accelerated motion as the sheets are presented to them and with a retarded motion when they deliver the sheets at the front guides, substantially as described. I

a3. In asheet-feeder the combination with sheet-separating devices, delivery devices provided with traveling surfaces acting progressivelyalong the sheet to feed. it forward, guides in front of which the sheets are delivered by the delivery devices, and means for moving said traveling surfaces with a gradually retarded motion they deliver the sheet at the front guides, substantially as described.

4ft. In a sheet-feeder the combination of delivery devices. provided'with traveling IOC . provided with traveling surfaces acting procomplete their forwarding action, substandividual sheets to the delivery devices, means retarded motion, substantially as described.

surfaces acting progressivelyalong the sheet to feed it forward, mechanism for presenting individual sheets to the delivery devices, means for operating said traveling surfaces to grasp and release the sheet when both the sheet and said surfaces are approximately at rest, and means for operating s'aid travelsurfaces to start the sheet with an accelerated motion and to stop it with a gradually- In a sheet-feeder the combination of delivery devices, provided with traveling surfaces acting progressively along the sheet to feed it forward,'mechanism for presenting individual sheets to-the delivery devices, and means for operating the traveling surfaces to start the sheet from substantially a state of rest with an accelerated motion and to bring it into position with a gradually-retarded motion, substantially as described.

-16. In a sheet-feeder the combination of delivery-rolls, mechanism for presenting individual sheets thereto, and means for operating said rolls to advance the sheet from approximately a state of rest with an,accelerated motion and to bring the sheet into position with a gradually-retarded motion, substamially as described.

47. In a sheet-feeder the combination of delivery devices provided with traveling surfaces acting progressively along the sheet to feed it forward, mechanism for presentin individual sheets to the delivery devices, and means for operating said traveling surfaces to grasp and release the sheets when both the sheet and the surfaces are approximately at rest, substantially as described.

48. In a sheet-feeder the combination of devices separating individual sheets, deliv ery devices to which the sheets are presented,

gressively along thesheets to feed them for ward, and means for operatin the traveling surfaces to grasp and release the sheet when both the sheet and surfaces are approximately at rest, substantially as described.

49. In a sheet-feeder the combination of delivery-rolls, mechanism for presenting individual sheets therei o, and means for gradually retarding the motion of said rolls as they tially as described.

50. In a sheet-feeder the combination of delivery devices,pro vided with traveling sur-. faces acting progressively along the sheet to feed it forward, mechanism for presenting infor operating said traveling surfaces to bring the sheet into position with a retarded motion and to release the sheet when the sur-- faces'and sheets are a proximately at rest, substantially as descri ed.

51. In a sheet-feeder. the combination of delivery devices, provided with traveling surfacesacting progressively along the sheet to feed it forward, mechanism for presenting individ ualsheets to said delivery devices, and

-means for operating said surfaces to grasp the sheet when thesiirfaccs and sheet are approximately at rest andto start the sheet an accelerated motion, substantially as described. I

52. In a sheet-feeder the combination of delivery-rolls, mechanism for presenting individual sheets thereto, and means for oper ating said rolls to advance the sheet from a faces acting progressively along the sheet to feed it forward, mechanism for presenting individual sheets to said delivery devices, and means for gradually retarding the motion of said traveling surfaces as they complete their forwarding action, substantially as describedr 54. In a sheet-feeder the combination. of delivery devices provided with traveling surfaces acting progressively along the sheet to feed it forward, guides in'front of which the sheets are delivered by the delivery devices, and. means for gradually retarding said surfaces as they bring the sheets into position at the guides,substantially as described.

55. In a sheet-feeder the combination with acombing device, of mechanism for feeding a bank of feathered sheets to said device, com-- prising a ratchet and reciprocating pawl, and meansfor arresting the advancing action of said pawl when the combing ceases, substantially as described. I

56. In a sheet-feeder the combination with combing-rolls the action of which is arrested by the top sheet, delivery rolls between which the sheet is advanced by the combingrolls, means for engaging and disen aging said rolls, a supplementalset of delivery- .rolls, front'guides, and means for gradually retardin the motion of said supplemental rolls to eliver the sheet at the front hides with a gradually retarded motion, su stantially as'described.

57. In a sheet-feeder the combination of sheet-delivery devices provided with surfaces acting progressively alon the sheet, mechanism for'presenting iridivi ual sheets to the delivery devices, means for reciprocating said surfaces and varying their speed to deliver the sheets with a gradually-retarded motion, substantially as described.

58. In a sheet-feeder the combination of delivery-rolls, means 'for presenting individual sheets thereto, a second set of rolls, front guides and means for gradually retarding the motion of said second set of rolls as they forward the sheet to thefront guides, substantially as described.

IIO

59. In a' sheet-feeder the combination of two sets of delivery devices provided with surfaces acting progressively along the sheet, 

